Christmas through the Eyes of a Christmas tree  The Life of a German Christmas Tree

A Nordmann fir spends over 10 years growing before it finds its place in German living rooms at Christmas. In those 10 years, it has to endure wind and weather, all the while focused on one thing: growing into a beautiful tree. The story of a Christmas tree.

The air is filled with the smell of moss and damp earth. Mushrooms are sprouting from the soft forest floor, autumn leaves are scattered everywhere. Thomas Emslander strides purposefully towards one of his conifers. “This one has the potential to become a premium tree next year,” he says proudly, pointing to the tree – a 1.5-metre-tall Nordmann fir, perhaps still “a little too wide” to be a first-choice Christmas tree this year. Thomas Emslander is one of over a thousand Christmas tree growers in Germany. He has been cultivating Christmas trees on his fields near Landshut since the 1980s. Germany’s most popular Christmas tree variety, the Nordmann fir, can be found on his fields in multiple shapes and sizes. The 1.50-metre-tall fir he believes has “premium potential” is around ten years old. Emslander planted the sapling about eight years ago. A long time, during which a Christmas tree is exposed to many different conditions.

Christmas tree seeds: from Georgia to Germany

A German Christmas tree typically starts its life in Georgia – where the Nordmann fir originates. In autumn, pine cones are collected 20 metres high up in trees. Over 100 Nordmann fir trees can be grown from the seeds from a single cone. The seeds are dried over the winter and sown in German tree nurseries in spring. It takes two to three years for the seedlings to reach a height of around 20 centimetres. They are then cleaned of soil, pre-sorted and, if possible, delivered to the producers on the same day to prevent the roots from drying out. The saplings are planted in locations where they can develop into “premium trees” – like Thomas Emslander’s Nordmann fir. This tree stands on a north-facing slope surrounded on three sides by forest. In spring, trees in this location are exposed to minimal sunlight. This prevents the trees from budding prematurely in the spring, which could leave new shoots vulnerable to frost damage. The slope itself offers the trees natural protection. Since the risk of frost increases from higher to lower locations, slopes are better suited for growing Christmas trees than valleys.

Frost isn’t the only challenge for Christmas tree growers – drought, hail and pests can also devastate entire fields. Eberhard Hennecke, a Christmas tree producer from the Sauerland region, has seen a single hailstorm wipe out a crop in seconds. Young branches die off and “the tree becomes unsightly”, explains Hennecke. Fortunately, such incidents are rare. With its hilly terrain and abundant rainfall, the Sauerland is an ideal environment for grow Christmas trees.

Sauerland: Germany’s Christmas tree heartland

The Sauerland is the largest contiguous Christmas tree-growing region in Germany. According to Hennecke, Christmas tree cultivation is the area’s second-most important economic sector after dairy farming. He manages up to 7,000 Christmas trees on 350 hectares.

For Eberhard Hennecke, the busy season kicks off in late October. During the harvest period, he hires 35 helpers – far more than the workforce required during the quieter months. Seasonal fluctuations in staffing are common in the Christmas tree industry, depending on the time of year.

The seasonal rhythm of Christmas tree farming

In February, says Hennecke, fences have to be repaired to protect the trees from animal damage. Spring is the time for planting new saplings, fertilising fields and clearing weeds from around pre-planted trees using machines and pesticides. Helpers also have to ensure each tree meets the standards – straightening tops, pruning branches and spraying pest-infested trees with insecticides. Much of this work is done by hand. In early autumn, trees not yet ready to be felled are tagged according to their colour, shape and size. At the end of October, harvest season then begins. This is the most important time of the year, since it generates revenue for the entire year. The work is hard, stresses Hennecke. Harvesting on the slopes is a treacherous business, especially when there is snow. When the weather hampers progress, a workday can last up to 24 hours.

Correct Christmas tree storage

After harvesting, the Christmas trees begin their journey. They are typically sold in DIY stores, garden centres or discount retailers like Aldi and Lidl. Both Hennecke and Emslander stress the importance of correct storage to ensure the trees stay fresh until Christmas. Ideally, retailers should keep trees outdoors, away from direct sunlight. The worst scenario is if trees remain strapped to pallets in high-rack warehouses until they are sold.

Christmas time = sales season

Emslander wryly refers to this as “customer control”. He has first-hand experience because, from a huge Christmas tree area on his farm, he sells directly to private customers – especially families with children. Some families, he says, even buy several Christmas trees, one for the living room and another for a child’s room.

Emslander can’t help smile when he shares stories about his customers. Most know exactly what they’re looking for, he says, because the tree usually ends up in the same spot every year. Some customers request a longer branch, while others prefer less dense foliage to ensure a wall clock remains visible. None of this will concern our premium tree until next year. The slope where it stands will start to thin out, but it will remain there with other trees until the next season, possibly growing a little taller. It may even reach the 1.75-metre-mark – currently the most popular Christmas tree height in Germany. With four tiers of branches, our Nordmann fir is potentially the perfect choice for a corporate client. Or perhaps it will remain as wide as stocky as it is now, or a storm will break one of its branches. A lot can happen in a year.

But in the end, maybe none of this matters anyway. In years to come, says Emslander, it’s not the perfect trees you remember, but the ones with a gap or a second tip – trees with character.

December 2024